Home
HelpTest ID GLURA Glucose, Random, Serum
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Useful For
Diagnosing and managing diabetes mellitus and other carbohydrate metabolism disorders including gestational diabetes, neonatal hypoglycemia, idiopathic hypoglycemia, and pancreatic islet cell carcinoma
Method Name
Enzymatic Photometric Assay
Reporting Name
Glucose, Random, SSpecimen Type
SerumSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 30 days |
Clinical Information
The most common disease related to carbohydrate metabolism is diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by insufficient blood levels of active insulin. Symptoms include polyuria, abnormally elevated blood and urine glucose values, excessive thirst, constant hunger, sudden weight loss, and possibly elevated blood and urine ketones. Complications from diabetes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. There are approximately 16 million diabetics in the United States, and that number is growing. It is estimated that at least 5 million of these people have not been diagnosed. The prevalence in the population age 65 and older is 18.4%, representing 6.3 million cases. The cost of diabetes to the US economy exceeds $92 billion annually.
Overproduction or excess administration of insulin causes a decrease in blood glucose to levels below normal. In severe cases, the resulting extreme hypoglycemia is followed by muscular spasm and loss of consciousness, known as insulin shock.
Reference Values
0-11 months: not established
≥1 year: 70-140 mg/dL
Cautions
Once the blood is drawn, the cells in the blood begin to metabolize the glucose that is present in the specimen. At ambient temperature, the glucose concentration in the blood will decrease by 10% per hour. Therefore, in a nongel separator tube, the specimen should be centrifuged as soon as possible and the plasma or serum removed from the cells. If the blood is drawn in a serum separator tube (SST) or plasma separator tube (PST), the glucose is stable once the specimen has been spun and the gel is in place.
Inhibitors of glucose metabolism such as fluoride also can be used. In these tubes, glycolysis will take place, but at a much reduced rate (approximately 10% over 3 hours).
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
Same day/1 to 2 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
82947